God and Hamsters

It’s amazing how much hamsters can teach us about God and ourselves and how the world works.

Tonight I heard a sermon illustration featuring hamsters, which has given me a lot of food for thought. It puts this whole strange world and life thing in simple and relatable terms. 

The pastor’s daughters had two pet hamsters, and they put them in a wonderful hamster cage. This cage had everything a hamster’s heart could desire: wheels, tunnels, treats, companionship, lots of food and water. However, one of the hamsters dreamed of a better life, because he started digging through the wall of the cage. The pastor took note of it, but decided to wait until it got worse before he patched the hole. 

Well, the hamster was more determined than he’d guessed, for one night it made its escape.

But the pastor knew something that the little hamster didn’t. Outside of the cage was a cat. The cat’s purpose was to devour the local mice population, but being a well-fed cat he more often nibbled on the mice rather than kill them outright. He was a sadistic torturer, gnawing on rodents before releasing them and catching them again. 

This hamster was in for a world of hurt.

Freedom's Choice

You are only as free as you want to be. As I write this I am faced with a decision. One choice is easy and does not require stepping out of my comfort zone. Only it results in continued bondage. The second choice is hard and requires stepping out of my comfort zone (in more ways than one) but will result in truer freedom in Christ. It will raise painful questions and things I would rather see remain hidden. 

But I am only as free as I want to be. The latter choice will require leaning on God to see me through. But the former I can do in my own strength. I won't need anyone else. The question hangs, the choice is mine. Will I make the easy choice and continue living in bondage, or will I make the hard choice and lean on Christ to see me through? I will lean on Christ and I will be free. The road ahead may be painful and filled with tears at first but Christ will see me through to freedom. I will live free. 

What about you? We all have a choice to live in freedom, or to live in bondage. What are you going to choose today? Will you live free today, or will you live in bondage to sin and shame? The question hangs, the choice is yours. What are you going to do today?